From the Northwest Indiana Times:
Surplus town-owned properties will be sold through an auction.
The Merrillville Town
Council decided to pursue that option following a recommendation from Town
Attorney John Bushemi.
Merrillville officials
have identified 34 parcels, which include several parks that aren't used, that
can be sold.
Bushemi said an
auction has multiple advantages over accepting sealed bids for the properties,
including generating increased interest through advertising and reaching more
potential buyers.
Rick Niemeyer Auction
Service will conduct the auction and receive 5 percent of the gross sale
proceeds, Bushemi said.
The council will have
a public hearing about the matter Tuesday before selecting the date and
location of the auction.
Town Councilman Tom
Goralczyk said Merrillville might want to withdraw some properties on the list
because they could be used for stormwater retention.
Bushemi said there
have been two appraisals for each parcel that could be sold. State law requires
the town to sell the properties at no less than 90 percent of the average of
the two appraised values, he said.
In addition to funds
received for the properties, Merrillville would benefit from selling the land
because the town wouldn't have to maintain the property any longer and the
properties would go back on the tax roll, Clerk-Treasurer Eugene Guernsey said.
